GREECE, N.Y. — Homeowners dealing with the highest water levels on Lake Ontario in 100 years of record keeping will receive $7 million in help from the state and boulders from the federal government, according to New York's governor.

Waves already have destroyed public and private breakwalls along the shores of both Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, countless structures have been flooded and roads have been closed at times.

Lake Ontario is at the end of the five Great Lakes, and a dam near Massena, N.Y., regulates its flow into the St. Lawrence. Officials can't open its gates all the way because extremely strong currents affect shipping, could damage turbines in two hydroelectric plants along the river and create flooding in the Montreal area.

Experts say it likely will be several months before Lake Ontario's level drops appreciably. Upstream, Lake Erie also is seeing higher water levels because of a wet spring and flows from the other lakes; erosion is a worry.

"People here have lived through this for weeks now. God bless their stamina," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said here Monday in announcing the assistance.

New York's $7 million will be parceled out after homeowners' insurance pays out to help repair homes in eight counties along Lake Ontario's and the St. Lawrence River's shore where Cuomo declared a state of emergency May 2. Residents could obtain up to $40,000 depending on their income, and senior citizens could receive more.

A week ago, Cuomo's administration announced $10 million to repair public infrastructure and $5 million in grants for small businesses. Cuomo said he had asked federal officials to install large boulders, or riprap, along the shoreline.

"It's a start, but it's not going to be enough," said Virginia Meier, who lives on a street where homes to the north abut Lake Ontario. Flooding has taken away some backyards temporarily and erosion has removed some land forever.

Just shy of 15 inches of rain have fallen since March 1 in Rochester, N.Y., nearly double of normal. Northern New York, Ohio and nearby portions of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec also have had heavy precipitation.

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Residents on Edgemere Drive were effected by high Lake Ontario levels and winds whipping the lake towards their property. Portions of this street were submerged under water as well as homes flooded by both the lake and Round Pond. Tina MacIntyre-Yee, Max Schulte

During the spring the marina and homes to the right of the bridge had water from Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay come up onto the property flooding many properties. It has since receded. Tina MacIntyre-Yee, Max Schulte/

As the wind whips up the waves, some of the waves make it over the portable dam set up in front of a few homes on Edgemere Drive are dealing with water on their property again. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE, @tyee23/staff photographer

Winds from the northeast whip up the waves on Lake Ontario. Homes along Edgemere Drive continue to deal with water damage. This house lost part of its breakwall over the past month. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE, @tyee23/staff photographer

The water bladder is set up in front of approximately three homes that are the most vulnerable from the lake where water in the past has flowed off their lawn onto the street. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE, @tyee23/staff photographer

Residents of Edgemere Drive prepare for high waves from Lake Ontario. Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the area and Sodus Point to announce that the state is testing an inflatable water dam that will be placed at the edge of some properties on the lake. If it is successful they will get more. Cuomo also talked about grants for residents and business owners who received damage. Dakota McKie with the 827 Engineering Company with the U.S. Army sits on the water dam keeping it steady until it’s completely filled. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Kevin Wisely, director of New York State Emergency Management Office, watches as James McNeely, with Flood Protection Services, explains how the Aqua Dam works to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/@tyee23/staff photographer

A water dam, placed near an area on Edgemere Drive where Lake Ontario has flowed out and onto the street, is being filled and being used as part of an attempt to keep Lake Ontario from flooding the area. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Residents of Edgemere Drive prepare for high waves from Lake Ontario. Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the area and Sodus Point to announce that the state is testing an inflatable water dam that will be placed at the edge of some properties on the lake. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise cutting into the shoreline at Ontario Beach Park. Wednesday morning all that was left of the beach was a small stretch of sand. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/@tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise cutting into the shoreline at Lake Ontario beach. John Cottrell of Rochester fishes off the pier close to shore in Charlotte. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise cutting into the shoreline at Lake Ontario beach. A big tree near the boardwalk at Ontario Beach Park is now a lot closer to the water. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise. Wednesday morning there was more water on the beach than sand. This is a view looking west at Ontario Beach. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise cutting into the shoreline at Lake Ontario beach. In addition to the beach being smaller, there were several small pools of standing water in Ontario Beach Park. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Many claim water levels in Lake Ontario are the highest they have ever seen. Some of the wooden posts, which are close to the boardwalk at Ontario Beach, are now in water. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Water levels at Lake Ontario continue to rise. Water coming into Slater Creek Park in Greece from Lake Ontario at times squirts under the bridge on Beach Avenue. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/@tyee23/staff photographer

A mother with her ducklings pause before they drink water in Irondequoit Bay while standing on a partially submerged dock at Newport Yacht Club in Irondequoit. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Dave Mills wades into what was the the dry dock at Arney's Marina in Sodus Point. Many boaters are holding off on getting their boats in because of the flooding and hazards on the lake. MAX SCHULTE, @maxrocphoto/staff photographer

Bob Boyce, a salesman at Arney's Marina in Sodus Point steps out of the work shop were employees are still servicing boats into the mote that holds back the lake water. MAX SCHULTE, @maxrocphoto/staff photographer

The above image was take April, 21 and the bottom photos was taken May, 16 at Arney's Marina in Sodus Point. Rising lake waters have kept the staff at the Marina busy building a mote around the building and maintaining pumps to keep the business dry. MAX SCHULTE, @maxrocphoto/staff photographer

Bill Joyce, who lives on Old Edgemere Drive, used plywood to protect his house from damaging wave action from Lake Ontario. Joyce has suffered flooding and break wall damage. JAMIE GERMANO, @jgermano1/Staff Photographer

Sandbags surround a break wall alongside the Pelican's Nest Restaurant, at 566 N. River St. in Rochester, as the rising waters from Lake Ontario flood into the mouth of the Genesee River and flood out the popular restaurant. Owner Terry Testa says the restaurant will open early next week. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Sandbags surround a break wall along side the Pelican's Nest Restaurant, at 566 N. River St. in Rochester, as the rising waters from Lake Ontario flood into the mouth of the Genesee River and flood out the popular restaurant on Friday, May 12, 2017. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rising waters at the edge of the docks at the Pelican's Nest Restaurant, at 566 N. River St. in Rochester, as the rising waters from Lake Ontario flood into the mouth of the Genesee River and flood out the popular restaurant on Friday. Boards have been taken out on the ends of each dock to help water pass through it as it continues to rise. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tim Berdych, with Christian Brothers Concrete Construction Company of Rochester, checks on a large water leak in a basement wall at 565 Edgemere Drive in Greece on May 5, 2017. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Bob Jones tosses sandbags as fast as he can near his lakefront house on Sandy Harbor Drive in Hamlin. The cottage was boarded up a couple of days ago to protect it from the waves. CARLOS ORTIZ/@cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Tim Berdych, with Christian Brothers Concrete Construction Company of Rochester, at work on a flooded home at 565 Edgemere Drive in Greece on May 5, 2017. "There's a sidewalk under here someplace," he said. SHAWN DOWD/@sdowdphoto/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Bob Jones fills sandbags in a hurry as he and his wife Judy try to protect their lakefront house on Sandy Harbor Drive in Hamlin. They both took a day off from work to do this and came up with a system for filling the bags. CARLOS ORTIZ/@cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Bob Jones carries sandbags to protect his lakefront house at Sandy Harbor Drive in Hamlin. His wife Judy was helping him fill the sandbags, something they both worked on after taking a day off. CARLOS ORTIZ, @cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Sam Schell, who lives on Edgemere Drive in Greece, usually has about 3 to 5 feet of beach in the summer. However due to rising lake levels, the waves are now up to her back porch. OLIVIA LOPEZ, @olopez4/staff photographer

Water has crawled into the Mayer's Marina grounds in Webster which can be seen here during a press conference regarding response efforts to flooding along Lake Ontario. CARLOS ORTIZ / @cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Fran Beth folds back the tarp holding sand that was given to her by the Town of Webster and which she will use to fill sandbags to prevent flooding at her home in Webster. The levels of water have been rising around her house which is down the road from Marge's Lakeside Inn on the Irondequoit side of the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge. CARLOS ORTIZ / @cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Allison Mayer, owner of Mayer's Marina, shows photos of damage on her phone to Irondequoit Town Supervisor David Seeley and left, Webster Town Supervisor Ron Nesbitt at her business location. CARLOS ORTIZ / @cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer

Irondequoit Creek is running fast and overflowing in some areas. At Channing H. Philbrick Park it rose out of the banks in one area and headed towards a walking trail. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer

Irondequoit Creek is running fast and overflowing in Panorama Plaza area. Zachary Mellow, an employee at Brook Hill Village, after telling the driver to stay to the left of the yellow lines, watches as it drives through the pooling water. TINA MACINTYRE-YEE/ @tyee23/staff photographer